Archives for July 2015

What Donald Trump Reveals About Ourselves

July 18, 2015 By John DeProspo 6 Comments

If you had told me only a few months ago that Donald Trump would not only be a bona fide presidential candidate but also leading in Republican national polls, I would have advised you to get back on your meds. But here we are and the once unimaginable has become reality. In the most recent Fox News poll, Donald Trump leads the pack of 15 declared Republican candidates with 18% of the vote, followed by Scott Walker at 15% and Jeb Bush at 14%. None of the other candidates reached double digits in the Fox poll.

But you, the person I so dismissively accused of being off their meds, quickly remind me of previous Republican candidates who led in presidential polls only to later self-destruct. “Just look at Herman Cain, Michelle Bachmann, Rick Perry,” you say. “Trump will fizzle and fade just like they did.”

After reading some of the comments people have posted online about “The Donald,” (“Trump tells it like it is;” “Trump…USA, USA, USA;” “Trump is a real leader, not like that wuss Obama;” “I’m a Democrat but I like what Trump has to say” ) I do not think he will go the route of “The Herminator.” Trump is a different animal altogether. He is a showman, a celebrity starring in his own new reality series. The spotlight is squarely focused on him and he is luxuriating in the attention. To his credit, Trump has done something all the other mainstream candidates have been unable to do. He has brought people who otherwise do not care about politics into the game. And boy have they made their political views, however ill-informed, known!

Trump, with an ego the size of which we have not seen in some time, says exactly what people are thinking but other established candidates dare not say. They prefer to deliver their messages in code or through dog whistles. Trump has successfully tapped into a deep vein of racism, bigotry and xenophobia that makes up a large part of the American electorate today. “Trump is like a breath of fresh air because he could care less about political correctness,” one comment read.

The “real” politicians in the race have been put in a bind by Trump’s success. Do they risk offending their base by criticizing Trump or do they lay back and not attack the man? When (not if) Trump, in a debate, accuses President Obama of not being an American will there be any candidate who has the guts of a John McCain who famously told a supporter, “No, ma’am. He’s a decent family man [and] citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues and that’s what this campaign’s all about. He’s not [an Arab].”

The Republican Party has stealthily been playing on people’s fears, and ignorance, for quite some time. They are masters at the game. Trump is just the “unfiltered” version of who they are and what they stand for. The chickens have finally come home to roost.

The odds of Trump becoming the Republican Party’s presidential nominee are still remote. With a mouth like his, how long before a Todd Aikens “legitimate rape” moment? But then again America elected a “B” actor president and the great state of Minnesota swore in a professional wrestler governor. As Chuck Berry might say, “You never can tell.”

God Picks Multiple GOP Presidential Candidates

July 16, 2015 By John DeProspo 4 Comments

Scott Walker’s recent announcement that he will seek the Republican nomination for president brings the unofficial count of candidates chosen by God to four. The other three candidates directed by God to run for the highest office in the land are Ben Carson, Bobby Jindal and Rick Perry. Ohio Republican Gov. John Kasich, not yet a declared candidate, has stated he is still waiting for the word.

If you add other God-friendly candidates who are running, but did not get an official nod from The Almighty (Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum, Carly Fiorina, Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio) Christian conservatives are blessed with an embarrassment of riches in selecting their 2016 standard-bearer. The question, though, is why would God choose so many candidates to run for the same office?

As a young boy attending Saturday confession at my local church, I once mustered the nerve to ask my priest why God would allow so much suffering, misery and injustice in the world. I still remember his answer very clearly. “My boy,” said the priest, “it is not for us humans to understand God. If we could understand God, we would be God. No one can understand God but God himself.”

My working theory on God’s motive for selecting multiple presidential candidates is that God just wants to make the nominating process more entertaining; more suspenseful. After all, while God has directed multiple candidates to run, God has not promised any of them victory (as far as I know.)

My other theory is that God is getting on in years and has become somewhat forgetful.

In an effort to better understand God’s motive, I decided to email the Vatican. To my amazement, I received a reply from His Holiness, Pope Francis, himself. “My boy,” said the Pope, “it is not for us humans to understand God. If we could understand God, we would be God. No one can understand God but God himself.”

Are Republican “Wedge Issues” Being Whittled Down?

July 15, 2015 By John DeProspo Leave a Comment

Say what you will about Republicans: they’re hypocrites, liars, mean-spirited, the embodiment of pure evil, but there is no denying they are political geniuses. How else can the party of big business and the wealthy, otherwise known as the 1%, continually get working class voters, who actually benefit from programs championed by Democrats, to vote against their own economic interest?

For many years, the GOP establishment has successfully used “social issues” to attract voters whose economic interests were really more aligned with the progressive policies of Democrats. These “social issues,” such as abortion, immigration, gun control, gay marriage, war on terror, are also known as “wedge issues,” “hot button” issues, or “culture wars.”

While Republicans have the public and the media distracted with emotional topics, they are free to make the wealthy wealthier, increase the national debt, hijack the Constitution, and take away government social services. Yes, “wedge issues” are a powerful distraction from the real issues that should occupy the political discussion; jobs, income inequality, social justice, equal rights for all.

Another tactic that has worked well for Republicans (and never matched by Democrats) is the art of political messaging. Would the workingman ever be against eliminating the estate tax? Never, but ask that same person if he favors repealing the “death tax,” the answer will always be “hell yeah!” The list of great Republican messaging is long and includes such winners as: “death panels,” “pro life,” “Obamacare,” “job creators,” etc.

But the old Republican playbook is not looking so good these days. With the Supreme Court’s decisions on Obamacare and gay marriage, Republicans have lost two of their hottest “hot button” issues.” Of course there is still an appetite for such issues among an ever-decreasing rear guard, but they are just that, decreasing.

I will not say the “culture wars” are over, but from the standpoint of national public opinion, the Republicans have lost, particularly among young people.

Republicans now face a conundrum. Today when they use “social issues” to appeal to white working class voters, or social conservatives, it drives away, in droves, young voters and socially tolerant voters of all ages. Many political observers now see this as a sure recipe for extinction.

“The tide of progress will always wash you to shore.”

Sarah, Oh Sarah … Where Are You?

July 14, 2015 By John DeProspo 4 Comments

With Donald Trump, the P.T. Barnum of the Republican Party, running circus rings around the more established Republican presidential nominees, the question on everyone’s mind is, “Where is Sarah?” What “The Donald” has proven is that there is a strong appetite among the Republican base for crazy and who knows crazy better than Sister Sarah?

If the Republican Party base is so keen on a showman running for office, surely they would love to have the ultimate political showwoman throw her hat into the ring! And good news! The rumor on the street is that the base may get their wish.

According to an anonymous source within PalinWorld, the “pit bull with lipstick” is flat broke and could use some cash. Though she accumulated tens of millions after quitting her Alaska governorship gig, the source confirmed she has lost most of the money through bad investments.

First there was the investment in a chain of Florida alligator petting zoos. That misadventure came on the heels of a men’s fragrance Sarah heavily promoted that captured the manly scent of the great Alaskan outdoors. Unfortunately, her “Eau D’Grizzly” never took off with men in the lower 48.

Some establishment Republicans have indicated they would enthusiastically support another Palin run. Their thinking is that she would split the crazy vote opening the door for someone more mainstream, like Jeb. But they should not be so quick to underestimate the lady master of “word salads.” If things don’t break her way, Sarah, as she is wont to do, will just quit… and wait for the next multimillion-dollar book deal.

Hallelujah! Majority Of Americans Do Not Think U.S. “Christian Nation”

July 12, 2015 By John DeProspo 6 Comments

Good news! According to a recent report by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), most Americans reject the idea the United States is a theocracy. Only about one-third (35%) say that the U.S. is a Christian nation today

Bad news! About one-third (35%) of Americans think the U.S. is a Christian nation today!

A closer look at the numbers reveals some more startling news. Nearly 45% of the public believes that the U.S. once was a Christian nation but is not any more. Among Americans who believe the country is no longer a Christian nation, almost (61%) wish it still were.

“This just proves my point,” noted famed ‘war-against-Christians’ conspiracy theorist, Bill O’Reilly. “This myth of separation of church and state, a modern invention created by communists/liberals/atheists and shoved down the throats of a Christian America, is taking hold.”

“For Christ’s sake,” fumed O’Reilly, “what about our Pledge of Allegiance? It’s ‘One Nation Under God,’ not ‘One Nation Under Karl Marx!’ And what about ‘In God We Trust’ on our currency’?”

Papa Bear O’Reilly should have taken the time to study-up on his American history

The Pledge of Allegiance, written in 1892, did not originally contain the phrase “under god.” The phrase was added in 1954, at the height of the Cold War. It was another way for Americans to separate themselves from the atheistic Soviet Union.

“In God We Trust” is nowhere mentioned in the Constitution. The words did not appear on our currency until 1864 and didn’t become our nation’s motto until 1956 (once again Cold War inspired.)

Mr. O’Really, now let’s get real. Any honest reading of American history does not suggest a Christian nation forcefully secularized by the liberal left in recent years, but quite the opposite.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof: …” – U.S. Constitution

Comedy Central Announces New Trump Reality Show

July 10, 2015 By John DeProspo 10 Comments

Polling news for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has been encouraging. Some national polls show Trump in a solid second place position behind Jeb Bush. But, businesswise, it has been a tough stretch for Mr. Trump. First NBC gave his reality show, “The Apprentice” the ax; then Univision dumped Trump’s “Miss USA”; then Macy’s stripped Trump’s clothing line from its shelves.

But things may soon be looking up for Trump. Comedy Central has just announced that, “in the event Donald Trump does not become our next president,” he will be the host of a new reality series, “I Really Did Run For President.” A Comedy Central spokesman, on condition of anonymity, confirmed that production for the new series is already underway. “We believe it’s a good bet. “The Donald’s” chances of being our next Commander in Chief are as good as that thing on his head being real.”

The new show’s format will feature Mr. Trump interviewing other failed presidential candidates. Each will be asked the same question, ”What on god’s good earth made you think you were presidential material?” First on the guest list will be “The Hermanator” himself, Herman Cain. The plan, as it stands, is to follow Mr. Cain with Michelle Bachmann.

As there are currently more than one dozen declared Republican presidential candidates, the show will have many colorful candidates to invite to the show. The producers believe they will have enough guests for at least two full seasons.

The list of misguided 2016 presidential wannabes will most likely include: Carly Fiorina, Rick Perry, Ted Cruz, Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal, Lindsay Graham, George Pataki, Rand Paul, Chris Christie, Scott Walker, Marco Rubio and Rick Santorum.

If the producers decide to go back a few years, they may have enough guests to go beyond two seasons. Who wouldn’t want to hear the following former presidential candidates answer Trump’s question: Roseanne Barr, Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, Tom Tancredo, Dennis Kucinich, Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan?

U.S. Citizenship Test – Are You Smarter Than An Immigrant?

July 9, 2015 By John DeProspo 2 Comments

Just like many Americans like to talk about the Bible, even though they have little familiarity with the book, Americans love to talk about the U.S. Constitution when they have very little knowledge of its actual contents. It’s a sad fact but one in three Americans would fail the citizenship test given to immigrants wanting to become American citizens, who, by the way, pass at a 97.5 clip.

Below I am re-posting an article from the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research. At the end of the article is a link to a test containing actual questions asked on the citizenship test. Do you have the nerve to take it? Are you smarter than an immigrant?

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Americans failing Citizenship test again

A new study by the Center for the Study of the American Dream at Xavier University confirms what we already know: Americans perform poorly on the U.S. Citizenship test. The new findings reveal some pretty alarming statistics:

One in three native-born citizens fail the civics portion of the naturalization test, in stark contrast to the 97.5% pass rate among immigrants applying for citizenship. (To pass, one must answer 6 out of 10 questions correctly.)
If the pass rate were 7 out of 10, one half of all native-born citizens would fail.
While native-born citizens do well on basic questions related to history and geography, the results reveal a low level of knowledge concerning the principles and features of American government that underlie our civic life.
- 85% did not know the meaning of the “the rule of law.”
- 82% could not name “two rights stated in the Declaration of Independence.”
- 75% were not able to correctly answer “What does the judiciary branch do?”
- 71% were unable to identify the Constitution as the “supreme law of the land.”
- 68% did not know how many justices are on the Supreme Court.
- 63% could not name one of their two US Senators.

As the Center explains, “the survey found that native-born citizens do best with elementary school level questions such as: ‘What is the name of the President of the United States?’, ‘What is the capital of the United States?’, ‘Where is the Statue of Liberty?’, ‘Who was the first President?’, ‘When do we celebrate Independence Day?’, and ‘What are the two major political parties in the United States?’. However, the highest incorrect scores consistently concern the US Constitution, and the governmental, legal and political structure of the American republic and basic facts related to current political life and identification of key political decision-makers.”

These findings are hardly surprising when, according to our 2010 report High Schools, Civics, and Citizenship: What Social Studies Teachers Think and Do, fewer than two thirds of social studies teachers believe it is “absolutely essential” for students to understand the principles of American government, such as federalism and the separation of powers, or to be knowledgeable about key periods of American history, like the American Revolution and the Civil War.

Think you can pass the citizenship test? Take it here.

In a related story,

Idaho Highschoolers Must Pass US Citizenship Test To Graduate

Donald Trump Piñata Smash Hit In Mexico

July 7, 2015 By John DeProspo 2 Comments

Not all Mexicans hate “The Donald.” Trump has faced a barrage of criticism after comments that Mexicans were bringing “drugs, crime and rapists” to the United States in a June 16 speech kicking off his 2016 presidential campaign.

Dalton Ramirez, an artist in Reynosa, Mexico, is all smiles. He has created a piñata that eerily resembles Mr. Trump. “It’s my biggest selling piñata, by far,” said Ramirez. “People just want to smash his face.”

“I just can’t stock enough of these piñatas,” said Ramirez. “I am forced to hire extra help.” In his kickoff speech, Trump did boast that, if elected, he would be the “greatest jobs president God ever created.” It appears Trump has already started delivering on that promise.

While many of the piñatas are filled with candy, some are stuffed with nothing but hot air. As Ramirez remarked, “There are some customers that just want to burn the thing.”

“In only a few days,” said Ramirez,” the Trump piñata has overtaken my previous best seller, Steve King.” Rep. King of Iowa famously asserted that children of some immigrants were being used as “drug mules.”

Oh those Republican job creators!

Photo | Elhorizonte

Does Hillary Pass The Smell Test?

July 6, 2015 By John DeProspo 9 Comments

Of course I will vote for her. That is, unless something truly cataclysmic occurs and she is denied the prize she has so long worked, and sacrificed, for. Bernie? I don’t think so. While I love the man and the message, I do not believe the country is ready to elect a self-described, true socialist.

There is something just not quite right about Hillary. It appears every move she makes is politically calculated. I seriously doubt there is a genuine bone in her body. Her vote to support the Iraq war? Pure political expediency. She had to show her toughness, right, if she ever expected to be Commander in Chief some day… and she does expect it!

From the “renting out” of the Lincoln bedroom to big campaign donors while in the White House, to $200k speeches to the likes of Goldman Sachs, the Clintons are unabashed political opportunists. To say the Clintons carry a huge amount of political baggage is beyond an understatement. Hey, Hillary alone carries enough streamer trunks to fill the hold of the Titanic.

Hillary Clinton and former president Bill Clinton have earned in excess of $25 million for delivering 104 speeches since the beginning of 2014. Since leaving the State Department, Hillary Clinton has made more than 90 speeches and notable appearances. Her gigs have included private equity firms, investment banks, nonprofit galas, trade association conventions, and many colleges and universities.

You may ask, “Is any person reading a fifteen minute prepared speech to a group of wealthy businessmen worth $200K?” Of course not! It’s a scam and we all know it. Let me tell you a little story I was told by my former father-in-law, a Brooklyn, New York personal injury lawyer. There was a group of Brooklyn trial lawyers who played a weekly game of poker with a few judges. As it turned out, the judges always won and the lawyers always lost. Unethical? Maybe, but very effective and lucrative for the trial lawyers.

Many of the political comments I read about Hillary go something like this, “While I will vote for Hillary, at the same time I will be holding nose!” It’s a shame that it may turn out that way. It certainly looks like a repeat of Bush vs Clinton.

In my seventh grade government class we were taught about the concept of voting for the “lesser of two evils.” Mr. Berger, here we go again!

In case some of you readers get the wrong idea, I would rather vote for a deck chair than vote for any Republican. Voting for Barack Obama – twice – was a thrill I hope to experience once again before my time is through, however.

Photo | educationviews.org

We Americans Just Love our Freedom!

July 4, 2015 By John DeProspo Leave a Comment

On this Fourth of July, we Americans have so much to be thankful for. We have so many freedoms people in other parts of the world can only envy. We have freedom of speech; freedom of religion; freedom of the press; freedom of assembly; freedom to marry the one we love; freedom to buy and hoard arms. But, by far, the greatest freedom we Americans love is the freedom to be dumber than a sack of hammers.

To quote that great observer of the American landscape, Jimmy Kimmel, “Part of being American is not knowing anything.”

In a masterful display of proving his point, Kimmel, host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” sent out his crew to interview “the man in the street.” The premise of the skit, “Lie Witness News,” was that Governor Jerry Brown of California, in an attempt to cut down on fires, rescheduled the Fourth of July to February. Just check out the video.

Yessir, we Americans love our freedom to be what we want and who we want; to be as informed or misinformed as we want; to be as educated or as ignorant as we want.

Founding fathers George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Van Der Beek would certainly get a kick out of seeing what the great American experiment has evolved (devolved) into.

And just think, these people also have the freedom to vote!